Ankle reducer



v. GUINZBURG July 7, 1925 ANKLE REDUCEH Filed March 1Q, 1924 mug' w ATTONN] se i Leanser uit may, if desired, be made an integral part of the stocking by providing a thickening of the material of the stocking along the desired line, to produce the band. In the accompanying drawing l have shown said band formed integral with the body of the stocking by providing the side sections 1 and 2, which make up the stocking', with integral thickened portions in the torni ot bands which unite to produce a continuous, integral arch-supporting baud which encircles the foot, extending under the arch of 'the wearers foot and over the instep thereof. This band 11, being olf greater thickness than the body of the stocking, is

'consequently 'of greater tension or of less resiliency than the body of the stocking and acts as a surgical. strapping for the arch of the foot, acting with a yielding firmness upon the rnetatarsal bones of the foot and firmly supporting the arch. with a firm yet comfortable yielding pressure. l have described said ban-d or strap 11 as being formed integral with the body of the stocking by thickening the body material to form said band. This is preferably donc on the exterior` :tace of the sections 1 and 2, but it will be understood that said band may be produced on the inner face ot' the stockings or it may consist of a separate strip of rubber vulcanized or cemented to either the inner face or to the outer :tace of the stocking".

The band 12 which extends about the leg of the wearer just above the ankle iones of the toot, is preferably formed similarly to the band 11, that is, by thickening the niaterial of the body to form said bund, and

i it acts to compress the ankle ot the wearer,

exerting a firm, and yieldingI pressure which aids in both strengthening the ankle and iu reducing the size of the same by its continuous compression. rlhe two bands 11 and 12 meet or cross on the instep ol' the foot and resemble the surgical strapping usually employed in cases of Yitalien arches and weak ankles,l but as these bands or straps exert a resilient or yielding pressure upon the i'oot they neither bind nor cause discomfort when ivor- At the top c u. Il provide a su edge of thestocking .inding' or reinforcing strip 13 which prevents the edge of the i stocking from being torn While the same is being placed on or removed from the foot, and incidentally holds or binds down the upper endof the outer reinforcing strips disclosed at 5.

I have shown my improved stocking as terminating a -short distance above theankle, but it will be understood that the stocking may be full length if desired.

It will be seen from the'foregoing that my improved ankle reducer is useful not only 4tor the purpose of reducing the size of the ankle and attendant parts of the leg, but that it, While Worn, acts to measurably support fallen arches and generally strengthen the foot. The bands 11 and 12 are so placed that they apply a firm and yielding pressure, said pressure being greater than the pressure applied by the other parts of the stocking, where greater pressure is required without in any way` interfering with the movementsV of the leg and foot or in any way inconveniencing the wearer.

Having described my invention, what I claim is 1. An article of the class described comprising a stocking composed of an impervious elastic mate-rial vadapted to cover the ankle oi the wearer and extend upward above the same, said stocking having a 'thicker portion encircling the foot and eX- tending under the arch of the foot and over the instep and a thicker portion encircling the ankle said thickened portions being adapted to exert greater pressure than the body of the stocking. l

2. An article of the class described comprising a stocking composed of an impervious elastic material adapted `to embrace' the foot and ankle of the wearer and hold the same under a yielding compression and a band thicker than the body of the stocking and of less resiliencythan the stocking, integral with said stocking and embracing portions of the foot of the wearer said band being adapted to exert greater compression than the body of the stocking.

3. An article of the class described comprising a stocking of flesh-colored sheet rubber adapted to cover the foot and ankle und having its upper end terminating a short distance abo-ve the ankle, and a supporting andcompression band integral with said stocking, said band surrounding the leg or' the wearer and extending over the instep and under the arch of the foot of the wearer.

4. An article of the class described lcomprising a sheet rubber stocking having integral thickened bands extending around the foot and ankle or' the wearer for supporting and compressing said foot and ankle.

5. An Mde of the f' u described comprising a smoking compi/Med 0i? esn C01- ored elastic shce; mbbel. napted $30 Jover 'the ankle, of the Waalre? and etend upwar above same, Suid Hocking having Openings foi' the heel und. he tees of the foot and m1 'negI-a thickened pmtion adapte@ to ncice the GO'L an extend under the; arch of the font, sa thickenad port-ion being adapted to exert greater Compression than m the. n0-dy of *die smoking. I

Signed. at ha city, county and Siate of New York, hs 18th dayof March, 1924. VCTR GUNZBURU. 

